Cafe Claude Restaurant Review

: Café Claude has been a treasured local bistro for years. The interior, from the zinc bar to the wooden chairs and the cozy booths, all come from a café in Paris called Le Barbizon. Café Claude's original owner bought Le Barbizon when it closed and shipped almost all of it to San Francisco, where it was reassembled. The outdoor alley is an ideal destination for lunch or an after-work cocktail. The menu includes a variety of croques and salads, such as the salade maison made with butter lettuce, shallots, French radish and Champagne vinaigrette. There is a good selection of flavorful pâtés, and don't miss the rare treat of silky, Kobe-beef-style steak tartare prepared tableside. Additional classics are coq au vin with a reduced sauce and poulet rôti (roast chicken with braising greens and natural jus). For dessert, consider summertime’s cherry clafoutis or the warm chocolate cake.